What's New? (Oct 1952)

Page 2

SEVERAL TORONTO MANAGERS
ASSIGNED TO NEW POSTS

Daley, Trebilcock, Cook, McCammon and King
Move—Marshall from Ottawa to Toronto

Toronto theatres became the
hive of activity as a number of
managerial switches were effected
in the last few weeks.

Tom Daley, manager of the
Imperial theatre, took over the
reins of the University theatre
from Fred Trebilcock. Fred has
moved over the the Imperial
theatre.

Tiffany ‘Tiff’ Cook has
moved from his post at the
Capitol theatre to the publicity
department at head office under
James R. Nairn. “Tiff” will look
after theatre exploitation. Henry
Marshall, manager, Regent the-
atre, Ottawa, takes over the helm
at the Capitol.

Malcolm McCammon has be-
come manager of the Alhambra
theatre following the resignation
of Don Stein to enter the auto-
mobile business. Malcolm’s post
at the Bloor has been taken over
by Michael King, manager of the
Village theatre, Toronto.

Both Tom Daley and Fred
Trebilcock are members of
Famous Players 25-year club,
and both have played an import-
ant part in the establishing of
theatres. Both bring to their new
posts a wealth of experience.

‘Tom, the grey-maned captain
of the Imperial for 16 years, in
moving to the University, will
be moving back to a district
where he will find though a
great many physical changes, but
few who have forgotten him as
he frequently took his strolls
around what has now become
Toronto’s ‘Fifth Avenue” of
shopping.

He began as a projectionist at
what is now the Strand, St.
John, N.B., in 1907, and as such
Tom Daley is one of the real old-
timers in theatre business. From
St. John, he moved to Halifax,
and then to various other spots
in the Maritimes.

From the Maritimes where he
was in charge of installation of
equipment in many theatres, and
acted as projectionist at the Gem
theatre, St. John, N.B., until
1916, he was asked to join Fam-
ous Players in 1924 and become
manager of the Algoma theatre,
Sault Ste. Marie. He had already
been house manager of the Casi-
no theatre, Halifax, specializing
in smart advertising and ex-
ploitation.

He took

time out from

Famous Players to join a circuit
in New York State, but returned
to our organization to become
manager of the Tivoli theatre,
Toronto. He was in charge
when it became the first house
in Toronto to open with a per-
manent installation of sound
equipment in 1928.

In his years as manager of the
Imperial, Tom has become ex-
tremely well-known through his
work with the K-Boys Police
Club, a recreation group for
boys sponsored by the Kiwanis
Club. But Tom, the man with
the smiling Irish countenance,
is probably Canada’s best known
theatre manager, and what is
downtown Toronto’s loss pro-
mises to become uptown Toron-
to’s gain.

Fred Trebilcock, the boy who
spent his time in native Peter-
boro reading trade papers rather
than comic books to better know
the film industry, is an active
exploiteer. He was first prize-
winner in the Canadian Moving
Picture Digest in its Fifth An-
nual Showmanship Contest of
1945. He gained honorable men-
tion in 1946 and 1947.

In going to the Imperial, Fred
returns to a theatre where he
once worked for six years as an
assistant manager. This followed
an assistant manager’s job at the
Capitol theatre, Hamilton. From
the Imperial Fred got his first
manager’s job at a theatre in
Toronto’s east-end for a short
period, then he became house
manager of Shea’s, Toronto, un-
der Jerry Shea. In the fall of the
same year, 1937, Fred was moved
to the scene of his first job in
theatres, when he was made as-
sistant manager of the Uptown
theatre, Toronto; at that time
it was under the direction of
Famous Players.

Fred began at the tender age
of 19 in the business. Today at
44, he is probably one of the
youngest members of our
Twenty-Five Year Club.

Two years later, just as World
War II was declared, Fred be-
came manager of the Uptown,
and two years still later, in 1941,
Fred was back at Shea’s again as
manager. A short excursion into
the RCAF interrupted Fred’s
stay at Shea’s which was ended
in 1950 when he became man-
ager of the University.

One of Fred’s great loves is
the running of fashion shows.
For the showing of ‘I Can Get
It for You Wholesale,” Fred ar-
ranged for Thornton models to
parade right in the lobby of the
University theatre. For ‘“Rhap-
sody in Blue,” he had four win-
dows with that theme in Simp-
son’s department store. And for
“Affairs of Susan,” Fred ar-
ranged for a display in a window
of the original gowns.

Malcolm McCammon, who is
taking over the Alhambra, is the
father of two children. He be-
gan his career at the Tivoli,
Toronto, in 1947 under Len
Bishop, after a checkered career
of working in radio, as a coal-
superintendent, railroad man and
insurance salesman.

“Mac” as the tall heavy-built
dark Malcolm is known to his
friends, stayed at the Tivoli for
a year, then became manager of
the Village theatre, Toronto, for
two and a half years, until he
shifted to the Bloor. The first
day of Malcolm’s stay there was
an auspicious beginning as there
was a fire in the theatre, and
though not serious, ““Mac” emp-
tied the house quickly, and rated
front-page stories in the daily
press.

Looking back on the incident,
the modest ‘‘Mac” says, though
not in so many words, ““Twarn’t
nothing.” But “Mac” has been
at the Bloor for just six months,
and since being there, he has
interested himself particularly in
candy sales, and set up a candy
bar. His ideas have caught the
interest of John J. Fitzgibbons,
Jr., president Theatre Confec-
tions Ltd., and it is our feeling
that we are going to hear a lot
about ‘Mac” in the future.

Another one to watch is
Michael King, 27, who is moving
down to the Bloor from the Vil-
lage. Michael forsook the hotel
business to get into theatre busi-
ness. He began as an usher in a
downtown Toronto theatre on a
part-time basis. When an oppor-
tunity presented itself, Michael
was made an assistant manager
of the Eglinton theatre, Toronto,
in 1950.

In August of 1951, Michael
was made treasurer of the Im-
perial theatre, Toronto, and in
April of this year Michael fol-
lowed Malcolm McCammon into
the Village.

Michael has had a checkered
career as he has wended his way
back and forth across the At-
lantic with his parents three
times. He was in the Canadian
Army for a year, and is married.

JEAN POULIOT
TELEMETER HEAD

Mr. Fitzgibbons has appointed
Jean A. Pouliot Chief Engineer
of the new Telemeter Division
of Famous Players.

Born in Quebec in 1923, Mr.
Pouliot graduated from Laval
University with the degrees of
B.A. and B.A.Sc. His distin-
guished father is Dean of Science
at Laval.

JEAN POULIOT

Upon leaving the University

he worked for the Canadian Sig-

nals Research and Development
Establishment at Ottawa. A not-
able achievement was the de-
velopment of a system of radio-
teletype for the Canadian army.
He was also responsible for the
installation of the first radio-
teletype link in Canada between
Ottawa and Halifax and subse-
quently for the link established
between Yellowknife and Ed-

monton.

In 1946 as Commissioned
by the Department of National
Defence as their representative
to make a two-month tour of
Germany to investigate the state
of development of German tele-
vision and frequency modulation
equipment.

Mr. Pouliot was stationed in
Churchill, Man., for three
months in 1948 to study the
effect of cold temperature on
army communication equipment,

In 1949 he was appointed
superintendent of the Canadian
Navy Electrical Laboratories in
Ottawa and was responsible for
the development of radar, asdic
and communication gear for the
Royal Canadian Navy, working
under special orders from the De-
partment of National Defence.

|

SS ————————— eee

Page 3

FAMOUS PLAYERS BUYS FRANCHISE FOR “TELEMETER’

Through the Trade Press you
have learned that Mr. Fitzgib-
bons secured for Famous Players
a 25-year exclusive franchise to
manufacture, distribute and li-
cense Telemeter. The Canadian
franchise is the first in the world
to be granted by International
Telemeter Corporation of Holly-
wood,

Recently two top officials of
Telemeter visited Toronto. They
were Dr. Louis N. Ridenour,
vice-president in charge of en-
gineering and research, and Dr.
George W. Brown. Until recent-
ly Dr. Ridenour was chief ‘sci-
entist of the U.S. Air Force;
professor of physics and dean of
the graduate college, University
of Illinois.

The scientists, who head the
Telemeter research staff, were
introduced by Mr. Fitzgibbons
to the executives of Famous
Players and they told them, in-
formally, how Telemeter works.

Telemeter is a coin-in-the-slot
arrangement that permits the
home television receiver to bring
in. special programs.

While Telemeter does not re-
quire phone lines it does need
its own channel or temporary
use of an already established
channel.

Show business has always been
on a pay-as-you-see basis and
Telemeter is the only pay-as-
you-see method of subscription
TY.

Telemeter will advertise spe-
cial shows over a channel at
certain times. When a sub-
scriber tunes into the channel
before the program is scheduled
he sees a scrambled picture and
hears the voice of the “barker”
announcing what program is to
be presented and the price
charged for the entertainment.
If he wishes to see the show he
inserts coins into the Telemeter.
If he does not wish to see the
program, he tunes into another
channel. When the necessary
coins are inserted in the Tele-
meter (indicated by both the
voice and on the meter) the pic-
ture is -unscrambled and_ the
viewer sees the program uninter-
rupted by any commercial an-
nouncements. The viewer, by
paying for the program, becomes
his own sponsor.

Telemeter programs might be
exclusive showing of sporting
events or new motion pictures,
with no commercial tie-ups.

The Telemeter records, by an
electronic code device, the fact
that a viewer had seen a program

Recently two of Telemeter’s top research engineers visited Toronto where they

explained the story of Telemeter to home office executives. Shown here are

Dr. George W. Brown, well-known expert in the field of electronic computation;

J. J. Fitzgibbons and Dr. Louis N. Ridenour, vice-president and engineer in
charge of research for International Telemeter of Hollywood.

on a certain date. The Tele-
meters are cleared each month
just as telephone coin boxes are
cleared, and from the electronic
tape the exact percentage due
the film companies or sports
promoters is determined.

Telemeter also has a button
through which viewers can record
their opinions. For instance, a
dealer could present pictures of
his newest models and the view-
ers can express their preference.
Viewers can also give their opin-
ions on politics or other ques-
tions of the day by the use of
this button. Any question that
can be answered by a “yes” or
“no” can be recorded on the tape
enclosed in a Telemeter.

Telemeter can be brought into
the homes of TV_ viewers
through wires strung on tele-
phone or electric poles. <A
slight adjustment in TV sets is
all that is required. There will
be a connection charge for the
service.

Telemeters will be manu-
factured in Canada when final
blueprints are approved. Mr.
Fitzgibbons expressed the opin-
ion that it would be nine months
to a year before Telemeters will
be produced in Canada.

Telemeter -will have its first
practical demonstration in Palm
Springs, Cal., at the end of this
year when a community antenna

located on a mountain will pick
up a signal from distant Los
Angeles, amplify it and bring
it by means of cable to the
homes in the community. Palm
Springs is in a valley and cannot
otherwise receive a strong signal.
Telemeter will also be carried to
the homes via a special channel
which is tied up with the local
motion picture theatre.

Telemeter will move the the-
atre box office into the homes of
those who want to see special
programs through their TV re-
ceivers and will represent the
first important tie-up between
the motion picture theatre and
television.

BRAKE TEST PROVES BIG DRAW
AT MOOSE JAW DRIVE-IN

What could be more appro-
priate for a drive-in than to con-
duct a promotion that affects
the drive-in patron most? That
what was in the mind of Ralph
Crawford, manager of the Gold-
en West Drive-In, Moose Jaw,
Sask., as he set up a brake reac-
tion test in cooperation with the
Highway Traffic Board.

The idea for some sort of

_ demonstration actually came to

Ralph the hard way. He and
an attendant at the theatre were
both knocked down by cars.

Under the scheme, the motor-
ist is taught that travelling at
20 miles an hour requires 35 to
40 feet in which to bring his
car to a dead stop.

Ralph offered $75 to any
motorist taking the test who
could stop within 20 feet after
becoming aware of the need to
stop. No one qualified.

A device is placed on the front
of the car that does the measur-
ing. Though a brake test was
the gimmick, the brakes were
put on the grosses at the Golden

Gate Drive-In, as records were
chalked up during the whole
week of the demonstration. In
addition, Ralph was able to have
a three column picture with
story used in the local paper.

By the way, Ralph took the
test, and it took him 37 feet to
stop at 20 miles per hour. And
Ralph thought his reactions
pretty fair.

Those of you at drive-ins,
take a tip from Ralph. What
can you do to bring home the
need of traffic safety, as well as
helping your own operation?
There are countless ideas. Try
them.

Pace a

WALLY HOPP SHOWS THE WAY
TO PUBLICIZE A DRIVE-IN!

Many people like to forget
birthdays. Not Wally Hopp, of
the Starlite Drive-In, Nanaimo,
B.C. When the second birthday
of the Starlite came around
August 21st, Wally took advan-
tage of the occasion to receive
greetings and make the birthday
important and significant to his
patrons.

He did so many things to cele-
brate the putting of the second
candle on the cake, that we’llonly
summarize them, but here they
are:

A co-operative page of adver-
tising wishing the drive-in happy
birthday was promoted by Wally.
Across the top of the page, which
featured a story about the drive-
in was headlined: “Starlite Drive-
In Theatre 2nd Anniversary
Tomorrow.” Who in the Nanai-
mo district could have failed to
know about the Starlite?

A shopping magazine distri-
buted to 2,000 persons a month,
carried all the attractions at the
Starlite for the month of August,
as well as mention of the special

nights Wally features every week
at the theatre.

The features each week in-
clude: a married couples’ nite,
with approximately $50 in prizes
donated by local merchants. Each
week the couple is chosen, as
perhaps, the youngest, the oldest,
etc. Another feature is the lucky
license number which is used
every night with the winner re-
ceiving a credit slip from a local
dealer. A gift book stunt is used
to add $25 to the Foto-Nite
offer. Theatre passes are put into
the popcorn boxes, and that fact
advertised.

Programs are given out at the
theatre, as well as mailed to
those on a mailing list which tells
of the upcoming films. These are
paid for by an advertiser who has
the back page of the four page
booklet.

With these promotions, Wally
had no trouble in having a story
in the Nanaimo Daily Free Press
to the effect that the Starlite
broke an attendance record.

THEATRES PROMOTE
ARMY RECRUITING

Rais, eats... rats! “that's
what Stan Andrews at the Para-
mount theatre, Brantford, Ont.,
had when he played “Fighting
Rats of Tobruk.”

To plug the picture, he had a
tailless rat
placed in a cage in his lobby.
With it, he put a card which

read: “I’m an Australian Orig-

small Australian

inal Rat and am waiting for
The Fighting Rats of Tobruk
coming soon to this theatre.”

In a display of bren guns and
army equipment, with a sign
advising, “Be Happy—Go Army
—Enlist Today,” Stan rated a
three-column picture in the
Brantford Expositor. Of course,
Stan’ was able to promote the
equipment from his local ar-
mories, but he was also able to
plug his picture.

Tom McKnight of the Patri-
cia, London, also tied “Rats of
Tobruk” in with army recruiting
and planted pictures in the Free
Press.

TRUDELL PLUGS HIS
THEATRE’S SERVICE

Are you getting all the atten-
tion you should from one of the
valuable services you offer in
your theatre? Bill Trudell of the
Capitol theatre, London, decided
that more people should know
his theatre offered hearing aids
for the hard of hearing, free.
He pushed hard and obtained a
two-column picture in the Lon-
don Free Press showing a patron
wearing one of the aids. Did
you boys hear that?

FLYING SAUCERS
IN SARNIA!

Hammy Bowes of the Capitol
theatre, Sarnia, Ont., cracked
one of the toughest daily news-
papers in the world when he
played “Lady in the Iron Mask.”
For the price of the gas, Hammy
had one of his airplane-owning
friends drop 500 paper plates,
imprinted with sales copy en-
titling the finder to a free
admission to the theatre. About
30 took advantage of the free
show. But what made Hammy
happiest. was the four-column
picture in the Sarnia Observer
plugging the feature and show-
ing the paper plates flying, since
they looked like flying saucers.

CIRCUS STUNTS
HELP “G.S.O.E.”

“The Greatest Show On
Earth” will probably provide
some of the best exploitation
work of the year, and herewith
are some of the stunts on that
picture pulled by Michael Hall,
Paramount theatre, Kelowna,
Be.

Michael developed a real “Big
Top” atmosphere in the interior
city, as he gathered up all the
clown costumes and decorations
available.

During the busiest time of
day, before the opening of the
picture, Michael had a man
travel the streets with a placard.
Then he lined up a window dis-
play in a shoe store as a tie-up
with their “Carnival Casual”
shoes. Girls were sent up on the
stage following the trailer to
announce that “Everyone”
should see the picture, and the
radio station taped a ditty with
a carnival music background.

Michael pitched in too. Two
men were dressed as clowns to
ride a bicycle built for two.
You guessed it. Michael was
one of them.

During the run of the picture,
the girls and the doorman were
decked out as clowns, the candy
counter was dressed up in circus
fashion, and calliope records
were played in the auditorium.

Pitching in with Michael,
which by the way rated space in
the local paper, were Dick Len-
nie, doorman, Betty Egg and
Marilyn Oatman.

Patrons walking into the Cap-
itol theatre, Brantford, Ont.,
might have thought they were
seeing candy canes aplenty as
they looked at the striped candy
bar Bill Burke set up to help plug
“The Greatest Show on Earth.”

Bill gave the bar a striped tent
effect for a week in advance, and
dressed his girls in colorful cir-
cus costumes. For his outside
activity Bill captured a three-
column picture in the Expositor
as he put in a float in the Brant-
ford Labor Day parade. The
truck had a circus make-up with
clowns scampering all over it,
the highlight being a trapeze
mounted in the centre of the
truck with an acrobat in clown
attire amazing and amusing all
the spectators.

Vern Hudson at the Capitol
theatre, St. Catharines, Ont.,
certainly didn’t let anyone for-

get he had “The Greatest Show

on Earth” playing as he really
put the circus touch to his cam-
paign.

For a week in advance, he had
his entire service staff attired in
clown costumes borrowed from
the Canadian Legion. His candy
bar was appropriately decorated
with circus copy, balloons, etc.
His whole theatre gave the im-
pression of a circus being in
town. During the run of the
picture, an usher in clown at-
tire sold peanuts and popcorn
in the street outside the theatre.

A nearby town has an annual
Labor Day parade, and Vern
went to town with that too.
He borrowed the “Mr. Peanut”
outfit from Planters, lettered it
with ‘Greatest Show’ copy,
dressed one of his boys, and sent
him out to mix with the crowds.
Later, for the duration of the
run, Mr. Peanut paraded the
streets of the city.

In addition, Vern tied in with
his radio station, received many
free spots, and had them playing
circus music every time there
was a break.

KNEVEL’S TIE-UPS

Each week during the month
of July, Bob Knevels, manager,
Tivoli theatre, Windsor, dreamed
up a stunt to sell his current
attraction.

The first week, when he
played “Trio,” he did a natural.
He had book marks made adver-
tising the picture, and plugging
other Somerset Maugham books,
to be distributed by the Windsor
Public Libraries. Bob credited
the libraries. So successful was
he in that tie-up, that he came
through with another book-mark
to plug “Belles On Their Toes.”

In addition to using the book-
mark, Bob sent out a warranty,
valued at $1,000 of entertain-
ment, guaranteeing his patrons
they would enjoy the film, and
if not, their money was re-

funded.

For the showing of ‘The
Pride of St. Louis,” Bob got out
a small booklet called “How To
Pitch” by Dizzy Dean. What
the four-page herald “pitched,”
naturally, was a plug for Bob’s
picture. Neat gimmick.

———

eT IORI I r
ee ee

NANAIMO DRIVE-IN
CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY!

In one of the most compre-
hensive campaigns to cross
our desk in a long time Wally
Hopp, manager of the Starlite
Drive-In at Nanaimo, B.C.,
tells the story of what hard
work and ingenuity can do
to keep patrons of a Drive-In
excited. These pictures tell
part of the story. The rest

' of it is told in the outline in

this issue of his terrific cam-
paign.

Lucky Wally Hopp poses
with two of his attractive
staff, Kathleen Evanson and
Rita Smith, who served the
birthday cake celebrating the
second anniversary of the the-
atre. Each patron got a piece
of the cake.

Wally is shown with a
lucky married couple who
won $50 in prizes plus a pure-
bred pup — all promoted.
With him are the winners, Mr.
and Mrs. Ken Finley and Bill
Dobson, master of ceremonies.

Confection attendants at
the Starlite stand behind the
popcorn machine banner
which tells patrons how they
may win a lucky free double
pass when they buy a family
sized box of popcorn.

The sign painter spelled
“license” incorrectly but that
didn’t mean a lack of interest
on the part of patrons eager
to win a free double ducat
for a “lucky license” number.

Books of Famous Players’
Theatre Tickets were given a
boost in sales with the extra
$25 cash added to the regu-
lar Foto-Nite offer if the
patrons who won had F.P.
books of tickets in their pos-
session.

Thursday night at the
Drive-In is ‘Married Couple”
night when a lucky pair win
$50 in prizes for fulfilling
some requirement such as be-
ing the youngest, oldest, etc.,
couple at the theatre.

Display board advertises
Mystery Record Night. Pat-
rons are given coupons on
which to write their guess
and the winners are picked
the following Monday.

Page 5

OWE DF IRE ABOVE ELEM
NUMBERS (9 ORE

Te The
DRIVE-IN THEATRE

“DONALD DUCK” AT
TORONTO HOUSES

When Clarence Nash, the ven-
triloquist who is the voice of
Walt Disney’s Donald Duck,
came to Toronto for two weeks
during the Canadian National
Exhibition, he was also put to
work in our Toronto suburban
theatres.

Bob Eves, suburban theatre
supervisor, arranged with Dis-
ney’s representative, Clement
Sailas, for personal appearances
of “Duckie” Nash. — Special
Saturday morning shows weré
set up and Nash made flying
visits covering a group of the-
atres each Saturday morning.
Disney cartoons were booked and
each matinee was packed.

Nash has been the “voice” of
Donald Duck ever since Disney
created the character and, on
personal appearances, he’s one of
the hardest-working and pleas-
ing showmen in the business.

Pictures shown here are an in-
dication that Donald Duck is
still as popular as ever with the
youngsters and everywhere he
went he was greeted with tre-
mendous enthusiasm.

ONTARIO “’B’” MEN
IN 13 WEEK DRIVE

Managers in the Ontario “B”
district are busy these days with
dreaming up a stunt a week,
for 13 consecutive weeks.

It is all part of an idea of the
division manager, Dan Krendel.

Cribbing a bit from Dan’s
personal bulletin which he sends
out to the boys in his district,
he tells them: “I don’t care what
you do. . . dig down to the
bottom of the barrel, or turn it
upside down and start all over
again. . . . I know there is
nothing new, but some of the
oldies are still pretty good.”

That’s just a piece from Pa
Krendel, but we think it’s pretty
good advice. And to make his
contest particularly interesting,
Dan promises to have some sur-

ca be z ec >>
prise prizes, things like a ‘“‘C
note,

Dan passes along another good
idea to his boys, and those that
have had Staff Week in their
theatres will appreciate this:
Talk it over with the staff, some
one there will undoubtedly have
a suggestion,

So, good luck to you boys in
Ontario District “B”. Hope
every one of you comes up with
that $100.

ee Ee a:

A Profile...

EDMONTON'S “OLD MAN” WILSON

Within minutes of meeting
Walter Wilson, manager of the
Paramount theatre, Edmonton,
you are calling him by his first
name at his insistence, and he
calls you by your first name. He
is without a doubt one of the
friendliest persons in Edmonton.

When you watch him come
down the street, you wouldn’t
guess he is 76 years of age. He
walks with a bounce found in
men usually less than half his
age. And during all the years
that he has been in Edmonton,
he has shown no signs of slowing
down. When you begin talking
to him, you realize you are talk-
ing with someone with a great
sense of humor, as well as a
story-teller.

But it is no fiction that Wal-
ter is a successful manager. Wit-
ness his Rose Contest—a contest
that has made Edmonton famous
for roses—and known as the
Rose City. There midst steel
derricks drilling for oil, grow
one of the prettiest flowers
thanks to Walter. In recognition
of his efforts, Walter was pre-
sented with a gold watch by the
Provincial and civic govern-
ments for his efforts.

In June of this year, Walter
held his 20th Annual Rose Show.
To promote the growth of roses,
in a city which was said by
Walter’s detractors to be too
cold, the season too short, Wal-
ter passes out at the theatre a
booklet on proper growing of
roses. In the booklet is a coupon
with which the patron may pur-
chase from a flower firm in Ed-
monton, a quantity of rose
bushes at a special price, less
than catalogue price.

Then comes June, and in the
theatre which Walter is manag-
ing, it was the Capitol this year,
a big rose show is held. From as
far away as Yellowknife come
entries.

But Walter has other promo-
tion tricks in his bag. When he
was playing ‘Cimarron’ he
staged a stunt which had the
whole town wondering whether
the Klu Klux Klan had invaded
its northern environs.

On the snow-covered banks
of the Saskatchewan River,
Walter had a crew of boys dig
out a trench of 20-foot letters
with the name of the picture
and where it was playing. These
letters were then filled with
waste cotton material, and
soaked in coal-oil. At nine p.m.,
the Sunday evening before the
picture was to open, the letters
were ignited, Thousands of cars

loaded with people came down-
town especially to see the
spectacle.

Walter says the Capitol
theatre, Edmonton, was the first
in Canada to give away valuable
prizes on New Year’s eve, with
admission prices at one and two
dollars. As a result, they have
never failed to sell every seat
well in advance.

Once a week in Edmonton,
one of “world’s worst radio an-
nouncers” takes the air to tell
the folks about the shows cur-
rently playing his theatre. That
description is Walter’s own de-
scription of himself. Walter has
made himself known to every-
one in the northern city, but
how he keeps up with the ever-
growing population is a mystery
no one has been able to solve, as
yet.

A native of Bradford, York-
shire, England, Mr. Wilson first
started in the hardware business.
It wasn’t until he was 41 that
he came to Canada. That was
in 1909, and he joined the Cana-
dian National Railway. But he
noticed the motion picture busi-
ness was prospering in Winni-
peg, even in the days of five and
ten cent admissions. He ob-
tained a position as an account-
ant with the Starland Theatres
Limited, owners of a chain of
some 18 houses.

He later became director and
secretary-treasurer of Starland
Ltd., as well as manager of the
Starland and Lyceum theatres.
He was responsible for the build-
ing of the Garrick, Winnipeg.
In 1923, Walter began his asso-
ciation with Famous Players,
first as manager of the Capitol
theatre, Edmonton, and then as
manager of the Capitol, Vancou-
ver. He returned to Edmonton
in 1928 to take over the Pan-
tages, and in 1930, he was back
with the Capitol when sound
came in.

During his years, he has been
held up in the theatre, staged
baby shows, bathing beauty
contests, long hair contests, hus-
band calling, hog calling and
freckle contests. Once when
money was offered for uncom-
mon objects which people may be
carrying, Water offered $5 to
anyone carrying a spare glass. He
was fooled. Some one was!

But despite his activities at
the theatre, Walter has been
active with the attention he
must pay to his 11 grandchil-
dren, and three _ great-grand-
children, in addition to his seven
children. His son Bill, is man-

ager of the Capitol, Edmonton,
since Walter took over the helm
of the Paramount. So it looks
like the Wilson name is to be a
permanent fixture in theatre
business.

H. E. ROBERTS HEADS
REAL ESTATE DEPT.
Harold E. Roberts has been
appointed manager of Famous
Players’ real estate department,
succeeding Angus MacCunn,

who is now secretary of the
company.

HAROLD E. ROBERTS

Mr. Roberts brings to our
company a wealth of experience
in real estate matters. A native
of Hamilton, Ont., Harold
Roberts graduated in law at Os-
goode Hall and became associ-
ated with the National Trust
Company Ltd., of Toronto, in
1928, dealing particularly with
commercial properties. In 1946
he left Toronto to engage in
manufacturing in Tweed, Ont.
Returning in 1949, he joined the
legal department of the Toronto
Transportation Commission to
negotiate the settlements of
various properties required for
the Rapid Transit right-of-way,
a position he held until this year.

A former president of the
Building Owners and Managers
Association of Toronto, he was
also the first president of the
Canadian Association. His hob-
bies have been restricted to an
unorthodox style of bridge.

Mr. Bolstad, who announced
the appointment, requests all
partners and theatre managers
to refer matters pertaining to
management of rented premises,
realty and business assessments
and taxes and other matters con-
cerning properties which have
heretofor been dealt with by Mr.
MacCunn, to Mr. Roberts at
head office in Toronto.

The Famous Family welcomes
Mr. Roberts and wishes him
every success in his new office.

Page 7

THEATRE CONFECTIONS
CONTEST WINNER
TO GO TO HAWAII

How would you like to spend
12 days in Hawaii? And to have
all expenses paid? Well, that’s the
prize in a new Theatre Confec-
tions Ltd, contest being con-
ducted beginning week ending
Nov. 8 and closing week ending
Nov. 29. Four weeks’ hard
work to win that grand prize of
a trip to Hawaii.

President of Theatre Confec-
tions Ltd., John J. Fitzgibbons,
Jr., in making the announcement
of the contest, said that the trip
is for two and has been arranged
through the courtesy of Cana-
dian Pacific Airlines. The con-
test is open only to management.
Watch for more details in our
next issue and in your “Sweet

Sheet.”? Aloha!

WILSON ARRANGES
“JUST FOR YOU” TIE-UP

Taking for a theme the title
of his current picture, “Just For
You,” Harry Wilson, of the
Capitol theatre, Chatham, was
able to arrange a front-page plug
for movies in general, as well as
a full-page of co-operative
advertising.

Boxed on the front page of
the Chatham Daily News, Sep-
tember 4th, is the heading: “Let’s
Take The Family To The Movies
Tonight.” The copy which fol-
lows exhorts those wishing to re-
lax, to go to the movies.

It reads: ‘The big fall season
is beginning and theatre mana-
gers have booked some wonderful
releases for Chatham audiences.

“So plan now to relax in
pleasant surroundings and watch
the plot unfold tonight. You’ll
feel better, look better, and work
better tomorrow. Make it a
family affair.

“The show you'll want to see
is listed on the amusement page.
Turn to it now.”

Inside is a lovely full page co-
Operative ad, just plugging
Bing Crosby’s “Just For You.”
The whole page is headed by the
picture title, and every ad on the
page plugs the picture. Included
among the advertisers is a jewelry
store, music store, printer, flower
shop and the county fair.

Not satisfied to have a full
page of advertising, Harry an-
nounces an amateur contest at
the theatre with $500 worth of
prizes.

“Just For You,” Harry has
come up with some excellent
public relations. Just an idea that
can be applied in any town.
Try it.

Page 8

“KING KONG’ CASH AWARDS
RESULT IN STRONG CAMPAIGNS

“King Kong” is one of those
pictures on which the manager
can go all out on, and make no
mistakes. The crazier the stunt,
the more successful it will be.
A number of the boys have
already learned that, and any
angle of the picture that they
have been able to play up, has
paid off.

Do you have the picture com-
ing up? Take a look at what
some of the managers all across
Canada have been doing to push
this exploitation natural.

Paul Turnbull, pinch-hitting
for James Peter McDonough,
away on vacation, at the Tivoli,
Hamilton, came up with some
good ideas to push the gorilla
across the city scene of Hamil-
ton.

Along with Doug Mickleboro,
assistant captain of the Tivoli,
he approached columnist John
Robinson of the Hamilton
Spectator. Three stories were
planted with Robinson, to run
three different days.

One story kidded Turnbull
who lamented to Robinson about
McDonough’s absence. Being a
good reporter Robinson asked
why. And so a story was
hatched. Turnbull said an ape.
As good a reason as any for a
yarn about “King Kong.”

Another story was an inter-
view between columnist and the
baby brother of King Kong.
Baby brother being an old, moth-
eaten bearskin, topped with a
gorilla’s head wrapped about a
staff member.

Another story kidded the col-
umnist himself. Another gim-
mick dreamed up by Turnbull
was to have a broadcast that a
gorilla was loose on the streets.
Actually, it was just a gorilla
parading the streets, making
himself a nuisance, and encour-
aging ticket sales.

Up in Brantford, Ont., Bill
Burke of the Capitol, put a
monkey atop a packing case in
advance of the show. On the
case was inscribed: “I can’t wait
for “King Kong’ to reach the
Capitol.” So great was the in-
terest, that Burke was able to
pick up a story in the Brantford
Expositor as well as a two-col-
umn picture on opening day of
the feature.

Miss O. Sharabura, manageress
of the Orpheum, Sault Ste. Marie,
showed originality in exploiting
“King Kong.” She entered a
float in the annual Community-

Nite Parade at the Soo. A truck

was decorated to give a jungle
appearance and a gorilla was
placed in a cage. With the lucky
gorilla was an usherette in a
leopard outfit as the beauty.
Meanwhile other usherettes in
sarongs added to the colorfulness
of the float.

In spite of the fact that a
theatre in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich-
igan, was showing the program
day and date with the Orpheum,
Miss Sharabura says her theatre
was able to chalk up a record
opening day.

Jeff Jeffrey of the Capitol,
Sudbury, was on holidays when
“King Kong” played in his the-
atre, but R. J. Campbell came
through with flying colors as he
put on his campaign. He had
two sandwich-board men parade
through the streets advertising
the picture. The boards had the
advice: ““You won’t rest in peace
till you see ‘King Kong’ at the
Capitol,” and “I’m hunting for
‘King Kong’ at the Capitol.” A
poster was put on a car with
the words, “Don’t miss ‘King
Kong,’ the 8th wonder of the
world.” The six-sheet selling the
picture in the lobby was sur-
rounded with palm leaves.

A false front dressed the front
of the Capital theatre, Peterboro.
Art Cauley, manager, put large
cut-out letters on top of the
marquee which were painted a
bright red, and at night were
illuminated with reflector lights
trained on them from the sides
of the building. For a week be-
fore opening Art had cut-out
lithos, to fit the door panels,
which were later moved outside
to the front. Naturally, Art took
advantage of the use of heralds,
distributing them to capacity
softball and hard-ball crowds.

At the Capitol theatre, Wel-
land, manager Jack Knight bor-
rowed a gorilla costume and
dressed one of his assistants in
it. Now this isn’t unusual in
itself, but it’s what Jack had the
gorilla do, that makes interesting
reading as well as bringing the
people to the box-office. With
appropriate copy on him, the
gorilla went down to a lift
bridge in the city. This bridge
ties up traffic anywhere from ten
to thirty minutes a day. While
trafic was tied up, the gorilla
distributed cards with “King
Kong” copy to the cars waiting
for the bridge to open again.

Les Preston of the Capitol
theatre, St. Thomas, showed
some originality when he wasn’t

able to obtain a monkey suit. He
dressed a young fellow in an old
coon coat, set him in the tonneau
of a brand new convertible pro-
moted from a dealer for the oc-
casion and entered it in the St.
Thomas Centennial Day Parade.
Naturally the car was plastered
with “King Kong” copy.

A flash front was created at
the Capitol theatre, London, by
Bill Trudell.

In Moose Jaw, Sask., Otus
Bowes of the Capitol theatre,
was able to rack up a big profit
when he played “King Kong.”
He put on a radio saturation
program, in addition to which
he was able to pick up numerous
free plugs on various other radio
shows; he put up special mar-
quee signs and a banner. Then
Otus ran a contest on how many
people would see the picture,
promoting over $50.00 worth of
prizes from local merchants. The
contest was promoted by the
newspaper and radio with 1700
entries received. Otus reports
his candy business for the week
broke all records with 8.7 cents
being spent by each patron.

MR. FITZGIBBONS’
WORK LAUDED

On the cover of the magazine,
“Scope,” a. magazine published
by The Canadian Council of
Christians and Jews, is a picture
of John J. Fitzgibbons, president
and managing director of Fam-
ous Players. Inside is an editorial
which comments about the ac-
tivities of Mr. Fitzgibbons in
connection with the council’s
work that as head of the organi-
zation, “his wise counsel and
active leadership was in evidence
from the moment he accepted
the post.”

WEDDING BELLS FOR
BYRON OF MONCTON
Wedding bells rang for Ralph

Daniel Byron, assistant manager
of the Paramount, Moncton,
N.B., recently. He was married
to Mary Edith MacLeod, a
former TCA stewardess. Best
of luck to both of you.

PERFUMED BLOTTERS!

When the mail from Capitol
theatre, St. Thomas, Ont., came
into head office recently, the
person opening it paused a min-
ute after taking a breath of air.
There was perfume in the air.
Just a trick Les Preston played
to sell ““An American in Paris.”
Before the picture opened he
gave out perfumed blotters plug-
ging the film.

HUSTLING FOR
“KING KONG” PRIZES!

Famous Players’ managers
are really hustling to pick up
that prize money offered by
Terry Turner for the best
exploitation jobs on ‘King
Kong.” Much of the evidence
has been submitted in the
form of campaign books and
here is some evidence of ac-
tivity in the form of photos
on the opposite page.

(1) A large cutout of a
gorilla, as well as the title

feature decorate the front

marquee of Imperial theatre,
Toronto, where “King Kong”
played to smash business de-
spite hot weather.

(2) Jack Knight, manager
of the Capitol theatre, Wel-
land, shows off his gorilla to
an enthusiastic group of the
town’s younger citizens, as
well as to one of the more
beauteous citizens. The gorilla
passed out thousands of cards
all over the city, advertising
“King Kong.”

(3) Perched atop a pack-
ing case, a monkey dressed in
baby-clothes holds sign ‘I’m
waiting to see “King Kong”
on Wednesday” at the Capi-
tol, Brantford.

(4) Manager Murray
Lynch of the Paramount the-
atre, Moncton, persuaded
Major Arthur E. Stone to don
his cowboy outfit and go
down to the railway station,
accompanied by a “gorilla” to
pick up the cans containing
the “King Kong” film. The
picture got a 3 column break
in both newspapers.

(5) Signs advertising
“King Kong” decorate an
auto, as well as the sandwich
men who helped R. J. Camp-
bell, acting manager of the
Capitol theatre, Sudbury, in
plugging the picture.

(6) Effective marquee
treatment devised by Bill
Burke of Brantford to sell
“King Kong.”

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Page 10

“ROBIN HOOD” GIVEN
FULL TREATMENT

A bulls-eye was scored by two
managers who played ‘The
Story of Robin Hood”. Credit
should go to Murray Lynch,
Paramount, Moncton, and Bill
Novak, key man at the Capitol
theatre, Winnipeg.

Bill sent in quite a scrap-book
recording his activities with the
picture. Taking advantage of
the title, he arranged a tie-up
with the Robin Hood Milling
Co. The company distributed
some 14,000 entry forms in con-
nection with a guessing contest
conducted by the theatre. The
theatre handled another 6,000
itself.

As well as moving the entry
forms, the Robin Hood people
came through with a bicycle for
a girl and for a boy both. Then
the company plugged the con-
test in 160 stores throughout the
city, and over the radio, spend-
ing $1,000 on radio time alone.

For his newspaper tie-up, Bill
arranged for The Winnipeg Tri-
bune to have a contest for the
best review submitted on the
film, with three prizes being
given away, as well as passes.
The paper spent 2,000 lines on
the promotion.

Other tie-ins included the
playing of music from picture
on the radio, plugging the pic-
ture, and identification of the
music, and winning a pass to the
theatre; an archery contest’ be-
tween three archery clubs in the
city; five trucks carried banners
publicizing the picture, and
book stores and stationery shops
doing displays; two front win-
dows in Hudson’s Bay promoted
Sherwood Green and _ Robin
Hood red dresses and _ blouses
with plugs for the film; a special
Saturday morning show for kids
with donated prizes given away
and teasers run for two days
ahead of playdate.

Murray Lynch also worked an
arrangement with the Robin
Hood Company. He displayed
the company’s products in his
lobby, in the centre of which
there was a plaster four-foot
statute of Robin Hood. Some
15 floor displays in the city
stores were set up. Posters
pasted through the theatre and
in stores advertised the picture.
Robin Hood company ran radio
spots three times daily. Robin
Hood ran a special ad, and Mur-
ray arranged for a photo from

A neat and inexpensive way to promote ‘“She’s Working Her
Way Through College” was used by P. H. Seelinger of the
Capitol theatre, Halifax. At the left is seen the bicycle with
a cardboard cutout of Virginia Mayo, left over from a three-
sheet of the picture. The bicycle ridden by an attendant at
the theatre, dressed as a reasonable facsimile of a college fresh-
man, with crested jacket, rolled up trousers and trinket
spattered “beanie,” rode through downtown Halifax. The
bicycle which attracted lots of attention, was draped in col-
ored crepe, and had signs plugging the picture.

Boxoffice magazine, showing
Disney receiving an award from
Parents’ Magazine for produc-
tion of the film, to be run in the
local paper. That’s hitting the
bulls-eye, boys.

As a result of the Robin Hood
tie-up, arranged by Bert Brown
of our head office promotion
staff, Ray Tubman, manager,
Capitol theatre, Ottawa, gar-
nered more plugs on his local
radio station than he expected.
The theatre also had banners on
seven magazine distributing
trucks advertising the picture.
In addition, a special magazine
telling the story of Robin Hood
was sold at the Capitol candy
bar to great success.

NEWMAN'S CONTEST

When “Jack and the Bean-
stalk” was scheduled for the
Metropolitan theatre, Winnipeg,
manager Eddie Newman went to
work. He arranged a special col-
oring contest through the Win-
nipeg Tribune, and in addition,
arranged for a big attractive
window-display in Hudson’s Bay

store.

McDONOUGH’S BIG
“TEAM” CAMPAIGN

Jim McDonough, Tivoli the-
atre, Hamilton, Ont., looks as
if he is going to be on “The
Winning Team,” with the pro-
motion stunt he pulled on that
WB picture.

He rated a tieup with the
Hamilton Spectator, the local
newspaper, and the Hamilton
Real Estate Board which resulted
in over 1800 lines of co-op ad-
certising in classified ads which
cost Jim nothing, and to them
$390. In return, Jim gave a
lobby display.

The ads which ran for four
days had copy reading: ‘‘Sell-
ing your home? Take the advice
of Doris Day and Get On The
Winning Team.” Then there
was a plug for the Tivoli. The
copy indicated that the Hamil-
ton Real Estate Board was a
“Winning Team.”

Jim didn’t stop there. He put
a large advertising banner in
front of the Hamilton Civic
Stadium, home of that city’s
sporting events, Jim invited the
baseball team as guests of the
theatre, but due to playoffs and
night baseball, the scheme didn’t
go through. However, he had

plugs from the sportscasters and
sports columnists.

Window tie-ups were arranged
and a tie-up with the broadcast
of the Leo Durocher radio show
over a local station.

BLONDELL SCORES
WITH “SLICK” STUNT

Buzzy Blondell got hayseed in
his hair and really went to town
when “Aaron Slick From Punkin
Crick” played in his Imperial
theatre, Sarnia, Ont.

He opened his campaign on a
Saturday morning to plug the
Sunday midnight show. He used

a band as corn huskers in a Hay ~

Wagon Ballyhoo. This was Labor
Day weekend, and traffic in Sar-
nia, was particularly heavy.
Naturally he gathered lots of
attention. To keep his costs
down, Buzzy then switched to
the P.A. system, playing record-
ings from the picture during
afternoon.

Then while Buzzy was dream-
ing up new ideas for the promo-
tion of “Aaron,” he passed a shoe
store one day. The merchant was
dressing the window for the fall,
and Buzzy was quick with an
idea. Result was that there was
a scare-crow in the background,
and Buzzy placed a window card
one day prior to opening of
picture and three days during

Using the sandwich board,
Buzzy dressed one of his ushers
in overalls, straw hat, rubber

boots and pitch-fork to parade .

through the downtown streets to
plug the picture.

Finally, Buzzy had a tie-up
with a music bar for two days
prior to opening of the picture,
as well as during the picture’s
run,

CONFECTIONS CO.
ANNOUNCES CHANGES

Jack Fitzgibbons, Jr., president
of Theatre Confections Ltd., has
announced changes in his com-
pany due to the resignation of
C. L. Sweeney, purchasing agent.

Andrew Rouse, assistant to the
general manager, is to assume the
duties of the purchasing depart-
ment.

Kenneth H. Wells, branch
manager of Toronto District
“B”, has been appointed branch
manager of Toronto District
“A”. District “B” will still re-
main under Mr. Wells’ super-
vision,

ee

ASSISTANT MANAGER
AVERTS A PANIC

Paul Ruhnke, assistant-
manager-in-training, at the two
Guelph theatres showed some
quick thinking recently.

The box-office at the Palace
had just closed at about 10. Paul
was putting away the receipts,
when a policeman told him that
a fire was raging next door, and
there was fear the blaze might
spread to the theatre. He sug-
gested the theatre be cleared
right away.

Paul had never done this sort
of thing before, but rose to the
situation. The theatre was
jammed to the rafters. Calmly
he took the stage. He signalled
the operator to cut the picture,
and quietly announced to his
audience that there seemed to
be a disturbance down the street,
and he thought it advisable if
his patrons would leave the
theatre. Their ticket stubs would
readmit them at another time.

Quickly the crowd marched
out. It was then they discovered
what had happened. This fire
cost three persons their lives,
by the way.

Congratulations, Paul.

DONEY’S “INJUN”

In Guelph, Ont., the citizenry
looked a little wide-eyed when
they saw a fellow dressed in an
Indian costume walking down
the street with a suitcase let-
tered “Me Gottum Date with
Bob Hope in ‘Son of Paleface’
starting Friday at the Royal.”
Just one of Ted Doney’s tricks
to get the public to know about
“Son of Paleface.”

ALFRED LEWIS DIES

Alfred Lewis, veteran projec-
tionist at the Imperial and Capi-
tol theatres, Sarnia, and a mem-
ber of the F.P.C.C. Quarter
Century Club, died recently.
Alf was 58, and had not been
well for several years. He is sur-
vived by his brother, to whom
we extend our deepest sympathy.

HARVEY’S UNIQUE
BOOK O’ MONTH STUNT

Bob Harvey of the Capitol
theatre, North Bay, Ont., has
come up with a neat way to sell
theatre tickets. He has orga-
nized a Theatre Book of the
Month Tickets Club.

Each time a purchase is made,
the girl records the name, ad-
dress and phone number of the
purchaser, as well as the date
of purchase.

A month later, the theatre
phones the purchaser to ask
whether he is interested in
purchasing the current month’s
theatre tickets. The theatre of-
fers to deliver the book, or the
purchaser can pick them up at
the theatre.

It is wise when the person who
makes the follow-up calls to
have full details of the coming
programs, as the customer wants
to know what he is going to see.

This is the type of personal
interest a theatre should be
known for. How can a customer
forget your theatre if he hears
from you each month?

shh,

DEALER TIE-UP
FOR FOTO-NITE

Jimmy Cameron of the Lake-
head theatres at Ft. William,
Ont., has passed along some
valuable information about how
he has Seiberling Tire dealers
passing out about 5,000 coupons
advertising Foto-Nite at the five
Famous Players Theatres in that
district each week.

When a customer comes into
a Seiberling dealer, he is handed
a coupon with a date. If the
person’s name is drawn in the
Foto Nite drawing, and that
person has one of these coupons,
then -he is eligible for a set of
four Seiberling car tires, in addi-
tion to the cash award.

Wherever these coupons are
given out, there is a one sheet
card, not only carrying Seiber-
ling Tire tie-in copy, but also
announcing the five Famous
Players theatres participating in
Foto-Nite along with the official
Famous Players cash offers.

Jimmy declares that the deal-
ers report a flock of new cus-
tomers, especially on attendance
nite and Foto-Nites; these cus-
tomers are also making purchases
in order to secure their Seiberling
Tire Foto-Nite cards. This de-
spite the fact that the Foto-Nite
card can be obtained free.

The tie-in can be worked, we
are sure, on many other products.
Try it with gasoline, watches or
anything that comes into your

head.

Page 11

INSURANCE CO.
WORKS WITH GOUIN

Leonard Gouin recently took
over the helm of the Capitol
theatre, Peterboro, and imme-
diately proved “Anything Can
Happen.”

As a matter of fact, he re-
cently played that picture, and
came up with a few neat tricks.
He tied in with a local insurance
agency, and some 3,000 cards
were printed at the expense of
the agency indicating that “Any-
thing Can Happen . . . Complete
Insurance Coverage is your low
cost protection against the Un-
expected.” These cards plugging
the picture as well, were distrib-
uted in the theatre a week in
advance and placed in parked
cars around the city.

A crowd stopper was Len’s
barrel stunt. He wired the barrel
for light, and placed in front of
the theatre, with the title of
the picture placed on either side.
Two arrows pointed to a “peep
hole”? and anyone looking into
this would see a card with suit-
able copy and date of the pic-
ture. This was a source of great
interest and curiosity by most of
those passing the theatre.

Len then had his sign painter
letter the bottom of a one sheet,
“Anything Can Happen starting
Monday at the Capital Theatre.”
The one sheet was turned upside
down, though the painted copy
was right side up! He did the
same with his ads, having one
part of the ads printed in the

paper upside down.

Will Harper of the Paramount theatre, Kelowna, executed an outstanding exploitation campaign to sell
The Greatest Show On Earth” and saw to it that everyone in his town knew the great Cecil B. de Mille
hit was at his theatre. This sad looking clown paraded the streets in his polka dot costume to plug the picture.
Assistant manager, Michael Hall, teamed up with doorman Dick Lennie, to ride a tandem bike through town
to boost the show. Some of Will Harper’s clowns mug for the camera before the candy counter at the Paramount.

Page 12

ASSOCIATES HONOR
DON STEIN

A presentation was recently
made by all the Toronto Famous
Players managers to Don Stein
on the occasion of his resigna-
tion as manager of the Alhambra
theatre. Don is going to sell cars
for Crosstown Motors, and note
“we deal in Buicks and Pon-
tiacs.” (For that plug this de-
partment deserves a Cadillac!)

Before Don went to the Al-
hambra, two and a half years
ago, shortly after it had been re-
modelled, he was at Shea’s the-
atre, Toronto, as an assistant
manager to Fred Trebilcock.

At that time he was still going
to University of Toronto. He had
started working at the Midtown
theatre, Toronto, as an assistant
manager, when he started at uni-
versity.

He had received his early
training in the theatre trade un-
der Mel Jolley in Oshawa, and
had worked during summer vaca-
tions at Dunville, Niagara Falls
and other Ontario centres.

Don served three years in the
Canadian Army, rising from a
buck private fresh out of high
school to a lieutenant of 21. His
many friends in the Famous
Family wish him every success
in his new venture.

CULLUM TAKES OVER
REGENT, OTTAWA

Henry Marshall, after many
years in Ottawa and for some
time past manager of the Regent
theatre, has moved to Toronto to
succeed Tiff Cook in the opera-
tion of the Capitol theatre.
Henry has won many awards for
his showmanship and he’s taking
over a theatre whose patronage
has been built by smart exploi-
tation.

To succeed Henry Marshall in
Ottawa, Morris Stein has chosen
William Cullum who had done a
fine job as assistant to Ray Tub-
man in the Capitol theatre. Bill
Cullum takes over the manage-
ment of the Regent theatre, Ot-
tawa, immediately.

COLUMNIST HELPS
WARD IN N. FALLS

When “Pride of St. Louis”
played the Seneca theatre, Nia-
gara Falls, Ont., every sports-
minded citizen knew about it.
Fully half of Doug Austin’s
sports column in the Niagara
Falls Evening Review was de-
voted to the picture to where
and when it was playing. The
man responsible was Jack Ward.

Famous Players foursome won the N. A. Taylor trophy at the

annual golf tournament sponsored by the Canadian Picture

Pioneers. Nat Taylor, president of the Pioneers, presents his

trophy to the F.P. quartette—Jim and George Georgas of Owen
Sound and Bob Eves and Larry Bearg.

HARRY HALL, OTTAWA, WINS
CONFECTIONS DRIVE-IN CONTEST

A tremendous burst of speed
by Harry Hall and his concession
staff at the Aladdin Drive-In
theatre, Ottawa, won for him
The Sweepstake Contest for
drive-ins sponsored by Theatre
Confections Ltd. Harry’s group
just nosed out Dorothy Styles
and her staff of the Orillia Drive-
In theatre, Orillia, who placed
second.

The kids at Ottawa showed a
percentage increase over quota of
24.98 per cent, while the Orillia
team came up with an increase
of 24.06 per cent. Close, huh?

Another person who pushed
hard to win during the contest
was George Austin of Chippawa,
who always seemed to be in con-
tention throughout the contest.
But while those at Chippawa
did not place first or second in
gross sales, they obtained the
highest percentage increase in
“Return Per Patron” with an

increase of 18.38 per cent over
their quota.

First prize-money went to
Harry, Jack Marion, theatre
manager, George Ashe, Eve
David, Paul Parent, Mary Hall
and Vivian Hall. Second prize-
money went to Dorothy’s staff,
Dorothy and Ken Currie, the-
atre manager.

Special prizes went to George
Ausin and his staff for selling the
most packages of Chlorophyll
Mints; to Harry Hall and staff
with showing a 41.95 per cent
increase in quota in Pepsi-Cola
sales; Russ Woodward obtained
a 30.48 per cent increase in his
Orange Crush sales, while the
winning suggestion made during
the contest came from John
Bruce of the Skyway Drive-In
theatre, London.

Congratulations to the win-
ners in this four week contest
conducted especially for drive-
ins.

-_-_eeeeoeoeooo

PRESTON HOOKS IN
ON CENTENNIAL SHOW

Les Preston of the Capitol
theatre, St. Thomas, Ont.,
showed originality when his the-
atre took part in The St. Thomas
and Elgin County Centennial
celebrations. During the celebra-
tions The St. Thomas Times-
Journal put together a special
edition, and Les made excellent
use of the space he bought.

He dug up a cut of the theatre
as it looked when the theatre was
opened in 1931, and under it
placed a large cut of the theatre
as it now looks. His copy fol-
lowed in line.

“We've expanded too” and he
went on to list all the improve-
ments which have been made to
the theatre. Thus, 50,000 local
citizens learned the story of the
Capitol’s progress.

ce

Crit ba

CAVE STAGES
A PREMIERE

When Martin Cave, manager,
Dominion theatre, Victoria, B.C.,
played the Canadian premiere of
“Dreamboat,” a film spoofing
TV, he turned the tables and ar-
ranged a television set give-z way
as a door-prize.

This fact was brought out in
the local film reviewer’s report
on the picture. In addition, Mar-
tin picked up a three column
head on a story about the pre-
miere of the picture. Apparently
it was the first premiere the town
had in 20 years. With the story
went a two column scene-mat
from the picture.

OUR COVER
Walter Wilson staged his 20th

annual Rose Show in Edmonton
this summer. As usual, the en-
tries are displayed in the theatre
lobby. This year Walter moved
the show to his new Paramount
theatre. Wilson has been given
public recognition for his tire-
less promotion of rose growing
in Edmonton—one of his many
public relations accomplishments.

WINDSHIELD GAG
WORKS AGAIN

While acting as manager of
the Capitol theatre, Winnipeg,
Miss Pearl Treleavan took a cue
from Don Edwards, manager,
Nortown theatre, Toronto.

The last issue of ‘“What’s
New” told how during the win-
ter Don had the windshields of
those cars parked in his parking
lot cleaned while the patrons
were inside the theatre, and the
attendants were not busy. When
the attendants finished, they left
a card behind telling of their
deed.

Miss Treleaven tried the same
trick. And it received much fa-
vorable comment. The copy on
the card left behind by her at-
tendants read: ‘For the safety
of yourself and those dear to
you we have taken the liberty
of cleaning your windshield. We
trust that you enjoyed this even-
ing’s program and that you will
return real soon. Goodnight—
and a safe journey home.” Signed
by the Capitol Theatre.

PUBLISHED BY FAMOUS PLAYERS
for our co-workers

EDITOR

JAMES R. NAIRN

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY
CCTOBER, 1952